New Club World (Genuinely something new)
Mar 12, 2019, 6:58 am
#961
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 339
Actually I was thinking about that, and in a fully speculative way: I find it interesting that the new seats will probably won't be on BA's flagship route (LHR-JFK) for a while since so many of the flights are on 747's. And since the A350s don't have F, they won't be used on the JFK route either. Will they retro-fit 777s first and risk customer backlash for having an inconsistent seat on their most regular route?
Interested in other people's thoughts...
Interested in other people's thoughts...
Mar 12, 2019, 7:08 am
#963
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,237
I wonder if they'll pick up the retiring 744s on the MIA route ?
Mar 12, 2019, 7:23 am
#964
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BA
Posts: 102
The a350 is currently planned to have 2 configurations, one with F and one without. The later deliveries would see F however, given the timescales this is subject to change. You could say they're provisional plans.
Mar 12, 2019, 7:59 am
#965
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,285
Mar 12, 2019, 9:20 am
#967
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR, LGW
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,412
As per HfP (Headforpoints) today Snr Cruz has said in an interview that appeared in the BA staff Magazine...
“When an aircraft is taken out of service to get the new Club World seat installed, it will also get new First Class seats. This will be “our best [current] First seat, upgraded slightly”, which presumably means the 787-9 version.
The new “brilliant” Club World seat will “address all the issues our customers tell us about with respect to the current seat: gate-to-gate in-flight entertainment, all aisle access … more and better storage and more privacy”.
Therefore they can take out the 777s and do a refit include the new business seat and F upgraded seat.
Which would work and make sense for the JFK route. Although I’m not sure where this leaves the 747s as they dominate the JFK route.
“When an aircraft is taken out of service to get the new Club World seat installed, it will also get new First Class seats. This will be “our best [current] First seat, upgraded slightly”, which presumably means the 787-9 version.
The new “brilliant” Club World seat will “address all the issues our customers tell us about with respect to the current seat: gate-to-gate in-flight entertainment, all aisle access … more and better storage and more privacy”.
Therefore they can take out the 777s and do a refit include the new business seat and F upgraded seat.
Which would work and make sense for the JFK route. Although I’m not sure where this leaves the 747s as they dominate the JFK route.
Mar 12, 2019, 9:41 am
#968
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Blue, EI Silver, Honours Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,207
As per HfP (Headforpoints) today Snr Cruz has said in an interview that appeared in the BA staff Magazine...
“When an aircraft is taken out of service to get the new Club World seat installed, it will also get new First Class seats. This will be “our best [current] First seat, upgraded slightly”, which presumably means the 787-9 version.
The new “brilliant” Club World seat will “address all the issues our customers tell us about with respect to the current seat: gate-to-gate in-flight entertainment, all aisle access … more and better storage and more privacy”.
Therefore they can take out the 777s and do a refit include the new business seat and F upgraded seat.
Which would work and make sense for the JFK route. Although I’m not sure where this leaves the 747s as they dominate the JFK route.
“When an aircraft is taken out of service to get the new Club World seat installed, it will also get new First Class seats. This will be “our best [current] First seat, upgraded slightly”, which presumably means the 787-9 version.
The new “brilliant” Club World seat will “address all the issues our customers tell us about with respect to the current seat: gate-to-gate in-flight entertainment, all aisle access … more and better storage and more privacy”.
Therefore they can take out the 777s and do a refit include the new business seat and F upgraded seat.
Which would work and make sense for the JFK route. Although I’m not sure where this leaves the 747s as they dominate the JFK route.
I guess that the F cabin will be reduced in size as part of the cabin update. I guess it makes senes to recover/update/remodel parts of the seat when they are reconfiguring anyway. LH did a great job refurbishing F on the 747-400s a few years ago.
Mar 12, 2019, 9:44 am
#969
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,176
But he also said
I think across the Atlantic, we do offer the best First Class experience.
So without a direct F competitor from LHR BA have no real incentive to improve F
So no new F on LHR-JFK until the 747s are retired?
I think across the Atlantic, we do offer the best First Class experience.
So without a direct F competitor from LHR BA have no real incentive to improve F
So no new F on LHR-JFK until the 747s are retired?
Mar 12, 2019, 11:32 am
#972
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BA
Posts: 102
Plans for both exist - I've seen them. There is a provision to include F on later deliveries. There is still time before a decision needs to be taken.
Mar 12, 2019, 11:47 am
#973
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 1,089
Because you've seen them doesn't mean that is what will happen. There have been various options produced and it's well known that the initial intent was to have First on these aircraft, however this was changed when the initial seats designed for CW were rejected by Alex and decision made to look for another solution. BA has openly indicated what is intended for new aircraft - A350 - 3 class, 787-10 4 class and now 777-9 4 class.
Mar 12, 2019, 11:58 am
#975
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 34
Because you've seen them doesn't mean that is what will happen. There have been various options produced and it's well known that the initial intent was to have First on these aircraft, however this was changed when the initial seats designed for CW were rejected by Alex and decision made to look for another solution. BA has openly indicated what is intended for new aircraft - A350 - 3 class, 787-10 4 class and now 777-9 4 class.